Sultanpur National Park

Medieval History – Sultanpur derives its name from Raja Sultan Singh Chauhan, a Chauhan Rajput and a descendant of Harsh Dev Singh Chauhan, who, in turn, was one of the 21 sons of King Sangat Singh Chauhan. Raja Sangat Singh traced his lineage back to the renowned King Prithviraj Chauhan (reign c. 1178–1192 CE), as documented by the British Raj Indian civil servant and historian Henry Elliot (1817-1907). In 1474 Vikram Samwat (1417 or 1418 CE), Raja Sultan Singh Chauhan founded Sultanpur after reclaiming it from the Silar Muslims, a branch of Oghuz Turks, originating from Mahmud of Ghazni’s (971 – 1030 CE) nephew, Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud (1014 – 1034 CE), buried in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh.

Sultanpur, encompassing 52,000 bighas of land, emerged as the largest village under Farrukhnagar. Many present-day villages in the vicinity originated as “dhanis” or temporary farmers’ shelters within Sultanpur’s revenue boundary known as “lal dora.”

The surrounding region, known as Dhundhoti, served as the hub for salt production catering to Delhi and the United Provinces of British India until the late 19th century. Annually exporting 250,000 quintals (680,000 maunds) of salt over the Rajputana-Malwa Railway, Sultanpur thrived. The Farrukhnagar railway station and the metre-gauge railway commenced operations on 14 February 1873, with railway sidings at Sultanpur facilitating salt loading.

Sultanpur boasted an ancient mosque dating back to the era of the Sultan of Delhi, Ghiyas ud din Balban (1200–1287 CE). Two red sandstone slabs bearing Arabic inscriptions from this mosque were incorporated into the southern wall of the Jama Masjid at Farrukhnagar. The foundation of this mosque was visible until a few decades ago, as per accounts from long-time Sultanpur residents.

The salt industry in Sultanpur played a crucial role in government revenue, with the salt superintendent overseeing a ₹2 tax per maund. However, with the British Indian Government acquiring the Sambhar, Rajasthan salt works and imposing heavy salt taxes, Sultanpur’s salt industry faced economic challenges. By 1903-04, salt exports plummeted to 65,000 maunds, severely impacting the Sultanpur area’s economy. In 1923, the British authorities shut down the salt superintendent’s office, discarded all salt mounds into the wells, and closed the salt industry, causing significant economic hardship for the local population.

Establishment of the Bird Sanctuary – The inception of Sultanpur as a bird sanctuary can be attributed to the discovery made by Peter Michel Jackson, a renowned British ornithologist and honorary secretary of the Delhi Birdwatching Society. In 1970, Jackson communicated with the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, who was also the founder of the society, underscoring the imperative to designate Sultanpur jheel, located near Delhi, as a bird sanctuary. In response, Prime Minister Gandhi intended to visit the site but had to cancel at the last minute. Subsequently, she directed the then Chief Minister of Haryana, Bansi Lal, to safeguard the wetland. Consequently, Sultanpur was officially declared a bird sanctuary in 1972, and in July 1991, it received the designation of a National Park, covering an area of 1.43 km².

Of the 10,005 bird species worldwide, approximately 370 migrate to India due to seasonal changes. This includes 175 long-distance migration species utilizing the Central Asian Flyway route, with Sultanpur hosting over 250 bird species within its protected confines.

Before the implementation of embankments and drainage systems, Sultanpur’s surroundings remained waterlogged, attracting a plethora of migratory birds and hunters, including many from the Diplomatic Corps in Delhi. Presently, the bird sanctuary undergoes artificial revitalization through pumped water from the Yamuna.

Visitors keen on exploring Sultanpur National Park are required to pay a nominal ₹5.00 entry fee and present a valid identity card.